PRESS RELEASE

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio April 13, 2026

Marcos admin violating the law.—Tinio presses DOE on price freeze for LPG, kerosene under National Energy Emergency

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio questions why the Marcos administration is violating the Price Act by not implementing the automatic price freeze on LPG and kerosene prices.

Tinio pointed out that under the Price Act, once an area is declared under a state of emergency, prices of basic necessities—including LPG and kerosene—should be placed under automatic price control or frozen at prevailing prices, unless the President declares otherwise.

“The country was placed under a National Energy Emergency through EO 110, and DOE itself presented that the biggest consumer price shock was LPG in April,” Tinio said. “So the question is: why did the automatic price freeze under the Price Act not take effect for LPG and kerosene? If there was no presidential exemption, then the law should have been implemented.”

“Malinaw ang batas: Nag-a-automatic price freeze ang LPG at kerosene kapag may emergency, maliban kung may exemption na idineklara ng Pangulo,” Tinio said. “Wala namang ganong exemption, kaya kailangang ipaliwanag kung bakit hindi ipinatupad.”

Tinio said shifting responsibility between agencies cannot excuse non-compliance, stressing that government must act as one in protecting consumers during a crisis.

“Whether it’s DOE, DTI, or another agency, the public expects the government to enforce the law,” Tinio said. “If the Price Act provides an automatic consumer protection mechanism during emergencies, then it must be operationalized—especially when DOE acknowledges the magnitude of the price shock experienced by households.”

“Mga ordinaryong consumer ang pinaka-apektado. Sa hindi pagpapatupad nito, lalo pang pinapahirapan ni Pangulong Marcos ang taumbayan sa pagpapanatili nitong mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin. Hindi dapat tax revenues ang prayoridad ng gobyerno sa panahon ng krisis. Agad na ipatupad ang price freeze at price control, at tanggalin na ang excise tax at VAT sa langis.